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> if you don't take
> the audience into account, you are no writer. Yes, you want to write
> technically accurate information in a clear and concise manner, but if you
> aren't writing it TO someone, you are, at best, wasting your time, because
> no one will be reading it.
Things NOT being said at the Jet Propulsion Lab these days:
Buck, the Mission Commander: "Jim, I suppose you heard that the Mars Lander
rammed into the Mars polar cap at 10,900 mph."
Jim, the tech writer: "Yeah, I saw it all on CNN. Sorry, I was away at the
'How to care for your tender audience' seminar."
Buck: "Well, we figured out that because you wrote the wrong numbers in this
mission plan, the lander accelerated and nose dived into the ground."
Jim: "Yeah, that sucks. Can I get an upgrade for FrameMaker?"
Buck: "However, this mission plan sure does address me as an experienced
mission commander well. I am really impressed how you left out all that stuff
about confirming the details, etc. I sure didn't need to know that."
Jim: "Thanks."
Buck: "Here, have a big raise. With tech writers like you here at JPL, we can
look forward to more well formatted documents that will ensure we can't ever
get to Mars."
Jim: "Wow! Thanks Buck. Can I implement some more methodologies?"
Buck: "Oh sure, we've got plenty of money to spend on that important stuff.
We'll just scrap this International Space Station thing. Keep up the good work.
You sure are a true writer!"
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Sorry, but I like to write geeky manuals and I spend 98% of my writing energy
making sure what I write is technically accurate.
If you think accuracy is not important in tech writing - please don't ever take
a job in the airline, food processing, nuclear weapons, or ... well, just don't
take a job. I really do not want to be at the mercy of documentation that is
well targeted to the right audience, but WRONG!
Andrew Plato
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